Air supply system for welders&#39; helmets



1366- 1951 'r. A. CONLEY AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR WELDERS HELMETS 2SHEETS-Sl-EET 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1950 INVENT 0R THOMAS A.. CONLEY ATTORNEYDec. 4, 1951 T. A. CONLEY 2,577,697

AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM F OR WELDERS HELMETS Filed Feb. 16, 1950 2SHEETS-SHEET INVEN'IOR THOMAS A. CONLE-Y a gan ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4,7951 7 AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR WELDERS I HELMETS I Thomas ArConley,HarrisvilleQR. I4. assignor t American. Optical Company, Southbridge,

"Mass avol'untaryassoeiation bf Massachusetts Application February 1c;1950, Serial No. 144,496

9Claim's. (01. 128-1 42) 1 mg'i yn bii relates to improvements in proweer c sg e nature of w n fhelnets iand' has particular reference to theprovision of novel means of supplying filtered air to the wee eisl ahhet Oneof the principal objects of the invention is toprovide devices ofthe nature of welding helmets'with novel means for supplying filteredair underpressure directly into the breathing zone of the wearerof suchhelmets.

other "obi "ct is to provide. a device} of the above character. whereinthe volume of air necessary for efliciency 7 may be supplied atextremely low pressure and with minimum resistancetoair flotvJ w fAnotherobjeot-is to provide an arrangement of I ithe'a'bove characterwherein the danger; of causinginiurious ffumes to be drawn beneath theweldinghelmetisi'greatly reduced and substantially completely obviated.

Q Another object isto provide an arrangement of theabove'charact'erwhich obviates the obnoxious noises andturbulences inherent with mo'stprior art devices of .the' type wherein the air is not baflled duringits entry within the helmet. Another object is to provide adevice of theabcwe, character which simultaneously functions as a comfortablechi'nrest to hold the base of the helnijetfaway from the faceof thewearer."

Otherfobjects and'advantages of theinvention will become apparent'fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing'sJ-*: It is apparent that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction'and arrangement of 'partsshown and describedwithout departingfrom the spirit of the invention as expressedin theaccompanying claims. 'Ltherefore, do not wish-to be limited to the exactdetails 'of construction andarrangement of parts shown and described asthe preferred forms only have been given by way of illustration.Referring tothe drawings; 7 Fig; 1 is a front elevational view of thedevice embodying the invention; r

Fig; 2*is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 2 2 of Fig. land looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

- Fig. '3-is a frag entary sectional view taken as on lin'e 3-3 of Fig.1' and looking in the direc-- tion indicated by the arrows Fig.4 is aview generally similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modified form of theinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as on line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking inthe direction indicated bythe arrows.

'iheproviding of air under pressure internally of welding helmets orsimilar devices is not new in the art. Most prior. art arrangements,however, were such that the air was forced under relatively highpressure into the-helmet through a direct feeder line from a compressorfor the main purpose of reducing the temperature internally of thehelmet and also to prevent the entry of injurious fumes, dust, or otherforeignmatter.

. Such direct'air-lines introduced difliculty such as the forcing ofwater 'due to condensation in the linesth'roug'h the air lines. Theforcing of oil or rust particles or other debris through the-air linesleading fromthe compressor, were also hazardous. Another undesirablecharacteristic wasthat of the inherent obnoxious noises such aswhistling caused by air turbulences which were 'created'by such directairlines. In many instancesin the past. there was also the danger ofcreating a Venturi action with the danger of causing injurious fumes vto be sucked internally of the helmet and into the breathing zone of thewearer.

The present invention, therefore, is directed rangement whereby theprior art obnoxious noises are eliminated and substantially all dangerof drawing injuriousfumes internally of the hel met are obviatedf Afurther feature of the invention resides in the provision of a deviceofthe above character which; requires a relatively low air pressure andwhich will simultaneously function as exceedingly comfortable chin-restmeans for retaining the shape of the helmet in desired spaced relationand which will also function to block the entry of fumes into-the bottomof the helmet. Another feature is that of providing a device of theabove character which is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in natureand light inweight. 7

' Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate like parts throughout the several views, the deviceembo y n the invention comprises a face shield 4 formed of relativelystiff shock and impact resisting material having a suitable window 5therein'through which a relatively wide range of vision is afforded thewearer. The main shield portion 4 is supported on the head of the wearerby a suitable headband arrangement (not shown)' of conventional design Ila man cube. sh l a d. m he v t o the chin-rest of the wearer, thedevice to which the invention is more particularly directed comprises apair of strips I and 8 of material substantially the same as that usedin forming the main shield portion 4 whichmaterial may be of suit ablefiber, compressed "paper or; similar means. The strips 1 and 8are'positioned in overlapping relation with each other adjacent, thefree ends thereof and are pivotally connected to the main shield 4 bysuitable pivot means 5, The strip! is looped forwardly about a radiuswhich is less than that of the curvature of the front portion of themain shield 4, as shown best in Fig. 3, Y

whereby it will be slightly spaced from saidshield for relatively freepivotal movement. The strip 8, as it extends forwardly of the pivots '9,is spaced 7 with respect to the strip 1 as it progresses forwardly andis provided with an intermediate portion I0 located at a considerablyspaced relation with respect to'th'e intermediate portion II of thestrip 1. In between the said intermediate portions I0 and IL'th'BTG isprovided a'nroval shaped strip I2 ror'med'of material similar to that ofstrips I and 8 and to substantially the same width as said strips havingits ends I3 and I secured in overlapping relation with each otherby-suitable rivets or the like I5, The longitudinal sides of the ovalshaped strip I2 are shaped substantially to the same shape as theintermediate portions Ill and II. They are held in relatively intimaterelation by suitable rivets or the like I6. In the -end of the ovalshaped member I2 having the overlapping portions I3 and {I4, there isformed an opening through which a suitable airline I'I isextended. Thismaybe in the form of rubber tubing or other suitablemeans.

The assembly, comprising the intermediate speedrof air flow desiredtherethrough'and according to the pressure desired in the air line H.The oval shaped portion I2 and the covering of felt material I8 form achamber I9 into which the air from the air line I! is directed. The ends20 and 2| constitute the end walls of the chamber while the feltcovering which overlies the upper and lower open sides of the ovalshaped strip I2 constitute the upper and lower walls 22 and 23respectively of the chamber. a

Theair line I! is connected with a suitable air compressor whereby airmay be directed under pressure into thechamber I9 and forced through theupper and lower walls 22 and 23. This causes a clean flow of airdirectly to the breathing zone of the wearer while simultaneouslycausing a flow of air in a direction outwardly of the lower side orbottom of the helmet for preventing the formation of a Venturi actionwhereby injurious fumes, dust or other foreign matter may be drawninternally of the helmet. The strips 1 and 8 and the oval shaped portionI2 are formed relatively resilient and they func tio'n cooperativelywith the felt covering I 8 to provide a relatively comfortable and eiiicientchin rest means for retaining the front of the helmet in desiredspaced relation with the face of the wearer. Suitable adjustmentswhereby the filter chamber I9 may be located in proper relation with thewearer is provided by the pivots 9.

The felt or other suitable material 8' is such that when air is forcedtherethroughunder pressure there will be little, if any, noise created 7thereby.

While the device functions as extremely eiiicient filterin means of theabove character, it

desirable degree.

It is to be understood that the felt covering I8 is so formed as to havea relatively intimate fit about the oval shaped member I2 in order to"form a suitable closed chamber I9. The felt covering may comprise aplurality of sections secured in stitched relation with each other alongtheir meeting edges 24 or otherwise joined in sealed relation with eachother, as illustrated best in Fig.2.

In Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a modified form 'of the inventionwhich comprises a single strip of material 25 pivotally connectedadjacent its opposed ends'as illustrated at 26fto'th'e face shield 21;The strip 25 is formed of pressed paper, fiber or other suitablerelatively stiff and yet flexible material. The said strip 25 has astrip 28 having substantially the same characteristics as said strip 25secured thereto. The 'saidstrip28 has its ends 29 looped and turnedforwardly and secured to said strip 25 by suitable rivets or the like38. Intermediate the forwardly curving portions of said strip 25 and thestrip 28, there is positioned a looped strip3l having its ends 32secured in overlapped relation with each other and tothe intermediate"portion of the strip 25 as'by the rivet or the like 33. The said member3I functions as spacer means for'retaining the intermediate portions ofthe strip'25' and the strip 28 in spaced-relation with each other. Oneof the looped ends 29 of the strip 28 is provided Withan opening throughwhich a suitable air line 34 is extended. The looped strips" 28 and 3fare provided with a covering of suitable filtering material such asfelt, paper or other desirable filtering means 35 whereby the saidlooped strip 28 and the forwardly curving portion of the strip 25 willform an air chamber 36 into which air may be directed throughto the airline 34. The strip 3|, as shown in Figs. 4 a d 5, is .of less idth thanthe stri s 25 amaze and the air, thereforeisiree to pass throughout thelengthfofthe chamber 36 through the spaces 37 eetween said felt filtercoveringand the upper and lowerfedges of the strip 3 I. The feltcovering orfiltering material 35 may be formed of a plurality ofsections joined along their longitudinal edges 38by stitching or othersuitable means- The said looped strip 3| functions as a chin-rest orspacer means for retaining the shield in proper spaced relation with theface while the air filter, in this instance, will function ina mannersimilar to the previouslydescribed filter, that is, it will not onlyprevent entrance of injurious fumes or the like beneath. the face shieldbut willalso supply filtered air directly to the breathii'ig zone of thewearer.

From the foregoing description, it will; be seen that simple, efiicienta'ndeconomical-means and methods have been provided for accomplishingall of the objectsand advantages of the invention. Having described myinvention; I" claim:

1; In a device of the character described embodying a face shi ld, apair'of spaced supports connected to each other adjacent the opposedends thereof, one'of said supports being pivotall y connectedad'jac'entijts'oppose'dends to the shield internally thereof, an oval shapedmember fitted between .said supports, an airline extending within's'aidoval shaped member, and filtering material overlying the opposed opensides of the oval shaped member and functioning cooperatively with saidmember to form a chamber into which air is directed by the air line.

2. In a device of the character described embodying a face shield, apair of supports having arcuately shaped intermediate portions joinedwith each other adjacent their opposed ends, one

of said supports being pivotally connected, ad-

jacent its opposed ends, internally of the shield, filtering materialoverlying the opposed open sides of said pair of supports throughout themajor portion thereof and means for directing a flow of air within saidspaced supports and the filtering material.

3. In a device of the character described comprising a face shield, apair of relatively thin strips of resilient material joined with eachother with the major portion thereof in spaced relation with each other,one of said strips being pivotally connected adjacent its opposed endsinternally of the shield, means formed of resilient material positionedbetween said spaced strips and forming spaced wall portions extendingtransversely of said spaced strips, one of said wall portions having anopening therein, an air line extending through said opening, andfiltering material overlying the opposed open sides of said strips andsaid spaced wall portions to form a chamber into which the air isdirected.

4. In a device of the character described com prising a face shield, apair of spaced supports connected to each other, one of said supportsbeing pivotally connected adjacent its opposed ends internally of theshield, filtering material overlying the opposed open sides of thespaced supports and an air line for directing air between said supportsand the filtering material.

5. In a device of the character described comprising a face shield, apair of supports formed of relatively thin resilient material, saidsupports being joined with each other adjacent the opposed ends thereofin such a manner as to cause the intermediate portions of said strips tobe spaced relative to each other, a relatively thin strip of resilientmaterial having its opposed ends secured in overlapping relation witheach other with said strip lying between said first mentioned strips andsecured to at least one thereof, said strip having its ends secured inoverlapping relation having an opening in the side wall thereof,filtering material wrapped around said strips and having its meetingends secured together to form a casing of filtering material surroundingsaid strips and means for directing a flow of air through said openingsand into the spaced strips beneath the filtering material.

6. In a device of the character described comprising a face shield, apair of supports pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to saidshield and having their intermediate portions in spaced relation witheach other, an oval shaped strip fitted between said supports adjacentthe front of the shield and internally thereof, an air line extendingwithin said oval shaped member and a covering of suitable filteringmaterial extending about said supports and oval shaped member to loopedend portions secured adjacent its free ends to the first ribbon-likestrip at a position spaced from the respective pivots with said loopedends causing the major portion of said second strip to be spacedrelative to the first strip, filtering material overlying the opposedopened sides of saidrespective strips and means for directing a flow ofair between said strips beneath the filtering material.

8. In a device of the character described comprising a face shield, apair of spaced supports secured to each other, one of said supportshaving connection means adjacent its opposed ends for connectioninternally of the shield, filtering material overlying the opposed opensides of the spaced supports and means for directing a flow of airbetween said supports and the filtering material.

9. In a device of the character described comprising a face shield, apair of supports formed of relatively thin strips of resilient materialsecured to each other with an intermediate portion thereof in spacedrelation, one of said supports having means adjacent its opposed endsfor connection internally of the face shield, filtering materialoverlying the opposed open sides of the spaced intermediate portions ofsaid supports, and means for directing a fiow of air between saidsupportsand the filtering material.

THOMAS A. CONLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,878,464 Bulmer Sept. 20, 19322,062,834 Schwartz Dec. 1, 1936 2,377,122 Bakke May 29, 1945 2,507,705Gaddini May 16, 1950

